Indicating target for simulated projectors



Oct. 24, 1950 F. M. NEW

INDICATING TARGET FOR SIMULATED PROJECTORS Filed April 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 [Maxi r01?" 5422 M. A/EW & ZZ/MM Oct. 24, 1950 NEW INDICATING TARGET FOR SIMULATED PROJECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1946 iatented Oct. 24, 1950 OFFICE INDICATING TARGET FoR SIMULATED PROJECTORS Fred New, New York, N. Y. Application April.19, 1946,- Serial No. 663,470

' 4 Claims. (01. arc-101.2)

. This, invention relates generally to electrically operated game apparatus and concerns more particularly improvements in or relating to aiming devices for target practicing.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide means affording always attracting and variably changing targets to be aimed at and upon registering with or hitting one of said targets to cause shift and alteration of scenery, pictorial representation or performances in a predetermined order of succession.

It. is another object of this invention to provide means facilitating indication of effective targets in a rather irregular fashion and sequence so that the dexterity and awareness of the operator will be markedly enhanced.

.,:It.is a further object of this invention to prov vide means offering the possibility of readily and easily modifying the conditions required for the relative movement of mechanical parts which cooperate with electrical contact pieces so that variegated operations of the apparatus may be attained.

It. is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an aiming device which is simple and inexpensive, efficient and practical and readily adapts itself for play or game or target practice.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of means rendering a still picture ineffective upon hitting a target by the operator and subsequently setting in motion a film projector which projects on a screen pictures of a film strip having reference or not to the aforesaid still picture.

Yet, a further object of this invention is to provide electrically operated target means which are. preferably disposed adjacent or around said screen on which the pictures of the film strip are reproduced, said target means being also employable as illuminating devices for attracting persons'to the target practicing apparatus. v

These and other objects are accomplished and this invention accordingly consists of the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the-members and in the relative 'proportioning and disposition thereof as appearing on the attached drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof. This embodiment is shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has been found in practice to give'satisfactory and reliable results,'although it is to be understood that the various parts of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not liml ited to the precise arrangement and organization. of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the game apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front-elevational view of the screen employed in this invention together with the targets to be aimed at;

Fig; 3 is a side-elevational view, somewhat in diagrammatic form, of a detail employed in this invention and shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a contact-carrying disk with contact arms mounted thereon;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram employable in connection with this invention.

' Referring now in particular to the drawings, there is disclosed in Fig. 1 an apparatus or device for target practice designated generally'by numeral l0. T

The apparatus consists substantially of two housings II and I2 and a frame work l3 inter connecting housing II with housing [2. Honsing ll supports on top wall l5 in ball swivel M the aiming device or gun l6 provided with a trigger IT. A stem or tubular member I 8 connects gun It with swivel M which in turn carries a con-. tact arm l9 adapted to move over a curved sup port carrying a plurality of contact pieces 2|, 22, 23. The arrangement of such aiming device is generally known in the art.

Housing H further'contains a projector device mounted on partition 24 within said housing. Side wall 26 of housing II is provided with an opening 21 in which is inserted a lens or glass plate (not shown) to close said opening 21. Pro jector 25 is provided with a lens barrel 28 which is 50 disposed with respect to opening 27 that a picture projected from projector 25 may be viewed on the translucent screen 3|], as indicated by dotdash lines 29.

Below partition 24 of housing ll there is disposed a driving mechanism 3|. This driving mechanism consists of a motor 32 having a shaft 33 on which gears 34 and 35 are fixed. Shaft 33 is held in suitable bearing of frame 36 which is removably attached to an upright wall 31 at 38. Gears 39 and 40 respectively, meshing with gears 34 and 35 are mounted on a shaft 4 I.

Gear 39 is fixedly attached to shaft 4|, whereas gear 40 is keyed to hollow shaft 42 which is loose-. ly mounted on shaft 4|. Shaft 42 further carries interrupter means in the form of a sweeper arm or wiper 43 provided at its free end with an in;

terrupter piece 44 for a purpose later to be described.

Fixed to wall 31 and insulated therefrom is a contact disk or support 45 carrying a plurality of spaced apart pairs of contacts 46, 41, 48, 49, 59, etc. Forwardly of wiper 43 and fixedly attached to the forward end 52 of shaft 4| is a contact arm 53 carrying twoconductor bridge means or contact pieces 54, 55 adapted to make and break contact with the outer contacts 46, 48, 59, etc. and inner contacts 41, 49, 5|, etc. mounted on disk 45. Housing I2 contains substantially a motion picture projector 69 fixed on a. platform or partition 56. Mounted on wall 57 of housing I2 are brackets 58, 59 for adjusting screen 39 in position relatively to housing I2.

Opposite lens barrel 6| of projector 69 there.

is fixed on brackets 62, 63 of top wall 64 and rear Wall 65 a reflector plate or mirror 66 adapted to throw a picture projected on mirror 66 against the rear face of translucent screen 39, as indicated by dot-dash lines 6? and 68, respectively.

Front wall 51 of housing I2 is preferably provided with an inclined wall portion 69 on which are arranged around screen39 electric lamps II, I2, "I3, I4, I5, I6, I1, 18.

Referring now more particularly to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 5, the operation in outline of the apparatus which, in this instance, is coin-operated is as follows:

' Upon insertion of a coin (not shown) in coin slot mechanism I9 (Fig. 1) is a conventional manner, time relay 99 is placed in the electric circuit to which current is supplied from a power source (not shown) through legs 89, 8|. time relay 99 remains in operation for the time for which it is pre-set.' Through a special switch (not shown) electric current will also be supplied through legs 89, 9| to motor 32 whose shaft 33 drives by means of gearing 34, 85 and 39, 49 conductor bridge means of arm 53 and interrupter means or wiper 43, The angular relationship between said bridge means of arm 53 and wiper 43 may be easily varied by displacing either said bridge means of arm 53 on shaft 4| or wiper 43 on shaft 42, as it is well understood.

- The aforesaid motor gearing causes rotation of arm 53 together with the spaced contacts 54, 55 over the contacts 46, 47; 48, 49 and 59, 5| on disk so that target lamps II, I2, I3 will be consecutively illuminated and shut oil by the following circuit:

Electric current is supplied from leg 8| to contact arm 53 through conductor 82. Contact 54, when rotated on disk, makes and breaks contact with contact pieces 46, 48 and 50 whereby target lamps 'II, I2, I3 will be successivel operated.

Let it be assumed that contact arm 53 with its contact piece 54 makes contact with contact piece 46. The following circuit is then established:

From leg 9|, conductor 82, contact arm 53, contact pieces 54, 46, lamp II, conductors 83, 84, relay switch 86 of relay 85 (which is normally closed), conductor 81 to leg 89. -Upon rotation of contact arm 53, the contact between contact pieces 54, 46 will be interrupted so that lamp II is shut off and lamp 12 is lit through the same circuit as aforesaid, whereby, however, contact is established between contact pieces 54 and 48 on disk 45. w 1

It will thus be apparent that a plurality of lamps which, in this instance, is arranged around screen 39, will be consecutively operated so that This 4 persons will be attracted to the target practicing apparatus.

In Fig. 5 only three target lamps 'II, I2, I3 are shown although it is obvious that the remaining target lamps, as indicated in Fig. 2, may be included into the circuit one after the other in a similar manner, as it is apparent from Fig. 4.

While timing device 99 is placed in the circuit, electric current will be supplied to projector 25 as follows:

.From leg 8| through conductor 88, relay switch 89 (which is normally closed) and conductor 9| through timer switch 99a, conductor 92 to projector 25 and from ther through conductors 93, 83, 84 over relay switch 86 (which is normally closed), conductor 81 to leg 89.

When this circuit is closed, projector 25 may project through lens barrel 28 a still picture which may preferably have reference to or indicate the title of a motion picture to be subsequently produced bymotion picture projector 69, as will be later explained.

The operator when using the aiming device or gun I6 to aim at one of the momentarily lit target lamps and upon pulling trigger Il, establishes when hitting the respective target lamp, say, I I, the following circuit:

From leg 8| through conductor 82, contact arm 53, contact pieces 55, 41, conductor 95, target contact point 2| (coordinated with target lamp 'II), current conducting arm I9, gun I6, trigger I'I, conductor 96' through timer switch 99b, conductors 97, 98, stop switch I96 of projector 69, conductors 99, I9I through relay coil I92, conductor I93 to leg 89, whereby projector 69 is placed in operation (as a consequence of closed switch I96) while the above-mentioned circuit through target lamp 'II is interrupted upon energization of relay coil I62 which causes displacement and opening of relay switch 86 of relay 85. Simultaneously, relay switch 89 which, as hereinabove mentioned, opens the circuit to projector 25, closes the circuit from leg 8| through conductors 88, I94, projector 69 back through conductor I to leg 89 so that the motor (not shown) of projector 69 becomes energized.

As a consequence of the establishment of this latter circuit, projector 69 is actuated to produce series of motion pictures on screen 39 by means of lens barrel 6| and reflector or mirror 66.

These motion pictures will be projected for a length of time until stop switch I69 is actuated by the film strip which causes opening of the circuit through relay coil 92 upon engagement with said switch I99 (by means of an abutment or the like carried by the film strip as it is well known in the art).

Thus, relay coil I92 will be de-energized which permits relay switch 66 of relay 65 to return'to its initial position and also urges relay switch 89 to fall back and to close again the circuit through conductors 88 and 9| to projector 25. Any appropriate means may be disposed within projector 25 to change by opening and closing the circuit through relay switch 89 the still picture which was previously projected on screen 39. Such picture changing devices are known in the art.

In order to bring about variation of the sequence in the operation of the target lamps and in order to further enhance the skill of the operator, means are incorporated in thisapparatus which impede the establishment of contact between certain contact studs on disk 45 with the contact points carried by contact arm 53 at intervals which cannot be easily visualized or predetermined by the operator so that even if he would intend to select or concentrate on a definite target lamp to be aimed at, such target lamp might be not operated on account of the'aforesaid impeding means whereby the intended aiming operation may not result in a hit and may rather divert the operator from concentrating on one and the same definite target lamp.

As above referred to, wiper 43 which is afiixed to hollow shaft 42, is set in motion by means of a suitable gearing from motor 32. Due to this gearing, wiper 43 carrying at its free endan insulating blade 44 with oppositely arranged inclined portions 44a, 44b rotates at a relatively higher or lower speed than contact arm 53 on shaft 4|.

Thus, arm 53 carrying contact pieces 54, 55 will be prevented from establishing electric contact with respective contact points of disk 45 at predetermined positions thereof due to the fact that said wiper 43, which moves with its insulation blade 44 in a plane substantially above said fixed contact studs of disk 45 and below contact pieces 54, 55, the latter being so arranged on contact arm 53 that they can recede or retract (against action of a spring, not shown) when said wiper blade 44 is moved in a' position intermediate said contact points and said contact pieces of said contact arm (Fig. 3).

The insulated blade 44 is bevelled at Ma and 44b to facilitate cutting off of the contact about to be established between contact pieces 54, 55 and said predetermined contact studs or points of disk 45.

Due to the herein described arrangement, predetermined target lamps will not be lit or operated at certain intervals and these intervals may be varied by changing the angular relationship of said wiper 43 and contact arm 53 or by suitably modifying the ratio of the aforesaid gearing 3435 and 39-40. It is, of course, understood, that other interrupter means may be provided for the purpose intended, said means thus included in the target practicing apparatus producing a factor or state of uncertainty in the manipulation and operation of said apparatus.

Although a hit scoring device may be employed in connection with this apparatus, such device has been omitted here for the sake of clarity.

It is obvious that timer 90 controls the period of time during which the apparatus will remain operative for target practicing and that after an elapse of a certain period of time a new coin has to be inserted in the coin slot in a conventional manner.

It is well understood that the wiring diagram has been shown and explained in a simplified form. The apparatus, however, can be equipped with known film rewinding means and provision may be made with respect to the coin slot that the same be blocked during operation of the apparatus during which rewinding of the film will be had.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention an apparatus of the character described in which the various objects hereinabove set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved,

. forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Let- .ters Patent, is:

means on said carrier whereby each pair of con-.

tacts may be connected across said conductor bridge means during movement of said contact carrier, interrupter means disposed for movement between said pairs of contacts on said support and said conductor bridge means of said carrier, whereby interrupter means is adapted to influence operation of said electric circuit means between said conductor bridge means and a predetermined pair of contact pieces, and power driven'means, respectively, connected to said contact carrier and said interrupter means and adapted to move said contact carrier at a speed different with respect to that of said interrupter means, whereby said interrupter means cuts off at irregular intervals the electric circuit means when established between pairs of contacts and said conductor bridge means.

2. An electrically operated shooting device according to claim 1, wherein said contact carrier and said interrupter means are coaxially arranged with respect to each other, and power driven gear means having different translations for said contact carrier and said interrupter means, respectively.

3. An electrically operated shooting device according to claim 1, wherein in the angular re lationship between said carrier and said interrupter means is variable at will by displacement of the latter relatively to the former.

4. An electrically operated shooting device according to claim 1, wherein said interrupter means is constituted by a wiper arm provided with knife-shaped ends to facilitate separation of said contact bridge means from a pair of said contacts during irregular intervals.

FRED'M. NEW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,120,577 Wiese Dec. 8, 1914 2,241,670 McMaster May 13, 1941 2,247,751 Elakins July 1, 1941 2,269,256 Eakins Jan. 6, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11.958 Great Britain 1896 

